Method and apparatus for handling textile fabric



May 21, 1957 J. COHN ETAL 2, 9 5

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TEXTILE FABRI C Filed Oct. l5, 1952INVENTO S 11a: BY 1721 6:617

{wi h METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR r TEXTILE FABRIC Application October 15,1952, Serial No. 314,907

7 Claims. (Cl. 26-185) LING This invention relates to a method andapparatus for handling textile fabric, and more particularly isconcerned with a method and apparatus for passing continuous lengths oftextile fabric through treating zones in such a manner that the fabricis continually, substantially completely relaxed during such passagethrough the treating zone.

As heretofore carried out, most treating operations performed oncontinuous lengths of textile fabrics, whether steaming, drying,finishing or the like, have resulted in the introduction of certainstresses in the fabric which it has not been possible to completelyrelieve prior to delivery of the fabric to the user. Consequently, whenthe fabric has been subsequently cut into garments and these garmentslaundered, substantial shrinkage has resulted because at this time theresidual stresses in the fabric, which up until this time have not beenrelieved, are relieved.

It has been one of the primary aims of the textile industry to avoidsuch shrinkage in a finished garment by avoiding to as great a degree aspossible the presence of residual stresses in the continuous lengths offabric delivered to the garment maker. While substantial success in thisdirection has been achieved, there has never to our knowledge beendeveloped, until our invention, any reasonably economical method orapparatus for handling continuous lengths of textile fabrics duringtreatments thereof which results in a substantially complete removal ofall stresses previously introduced therein, or which prevents theinitial introduction into the fabric of such stresses during certainnecessary treatment. One of the chief difficulties involved has been theproblem of how to control the rate at which a continuous length offabric is fed through a treating zone by successive feeding meanstherein in order to compensate for change in length thereof due to thetreatment, without imposing a tension upon the fabric which will, ofcourse, oppose any desire of the fabric to shrink or shorten.

It is the primary object of our invention to provide a method ofhandling continuous lengths of textile fabric during treatment thereofin such a manner that the fabric is continuously substantiallycompletely relaxed, whereby the tendency of such treatment to introducestresses into the fabric is counteracted and whereby the fabric ispermitted freely to shrink and shorten without consequently requiringthe imposition of any tension thereon in order that the rate of feed ofany portion thereof may be adjusted to compensate therefor.

Another object of our invention is to provide an apparatus by which theabove-set-forth method can be carried out and by which continuouslengths of fabric may be continuously advanced through a treating zonein substantially completely relaxed condition.

A further object of our invention resides in the provision of a methodand apparatus for handling continuous lengths of textile fabric whereinthe fabric, in addition to being continuously maintained insubstantially relaxed atent condition, is further tumbled to a certainextent, whereby stresses already residing therein are given anopportunity to be relieved.

Broadly, the method of our invention comprises advancing a continuouslength of fabric longitudinally through a treating zone in successiveloops and supporting the loops at their upper and lower portions. Duringsuch advance the fabric in each loop is continuously changed. Morespecifically, the fabric is substantially continuously withdrawn fromeach loop at its upper forward portion and is fed to the upper rearwardportion of the succeeding loop, and the rate of withdrawal of fabricfrom each loop is controlled in accordance with the rate at which thefabric is fed to the loop, or in accordance with the amount of fabric inthe loop. Advantageously, there is maintained in each loop suificientfabric to form a plurality of folds in the lower portion thereof tumbledone upon another, whereby the fabric is not only substantiallycontinuously and completely relaxed but is also subjected tostress-relieving or stress-preventing agitation.

Our apparatus for carrying out the above method comprises broadly aplurality of feeding means for advancing the fabric longitudinallythrough the treating zone and means within the treating zone includingthe feeding means for forming successive loops of fabric spacedlengthwise of the treating zone. The plurality of feeding means aid inthe support of the successive loops of fabric and effect a continualchanging of the fabric in each loop by withdrawing fabric from each loopand feeding it to the succeeding loop. More specifically, we contemplatethe inclusion in the apparatus of a plurality of J-boxes, each spacedbetween a pair of feeding means and adapted to receive fabric from oneand to have the fabric withdrawn therefrom by the other. Suitabledriving means are employed for operating the feeding means, the speed ofeach feeding means being controlled most advantageously in accordancewith the amount of fabric contained in the J-box from which it withdrawsfabric or in accordance with the rate at which fabric is fed to suchJ-box. In this respect, reference is made to our copending applicationSerial No. 313,182, filed October 4, 1952 in which such a controlapparatus is fully disclosed and claimed.

For a more detailed understanding of our invention, reference is made tothe following specific description of one type of apparatus comingwithin the scope of our invention and by which the method of ourinvention may be carried out. This specific apparatus is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a'fabric dryer in which is incorporatedour novel means for handling fabric which is to be dried thereby;

Fig. 2 is an elevation in section of the apparatus taken on line 2--2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the fabrichandling apparatusitself; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the handling apparatus illustratedin Fig. 3.

According to the invention, a continuous length of fabric is first fedinto the upper end of a J-box. A certain amount of the fabric ispermitted to accumulate in the J-box before removal from the bottom endthereof by a feeding means which feeds it into the upper end of asubsequent J-box. In this manner the fabric is ad vanced completelythrough a treating zone, being continuously deposited is subsequentJ-boxes and withdrawn therefrom by the feeding means therebetween.

Each J-box is operatively connected to the feeding means which withdrawsfabric therefrom and deposits it in the subsequent J-box in such amanner that the speed of the feeding means is controlled by the amountof fabric in such J-box. Furthermore each control for each 3 feedingmeans is so adjustable that by proper adjustment thereof the amount offabric permitted to accumulate in a J-box can be varied.

Referring now to the drawing, the drying apparatus there illustratedcomprises a housing 19 having a central longitudinal partition 11 whichcontains openings 12 and 13 in the upper and lower portions respectivelytherein, whereby the two compartments of the housing formed by partition11 are placed in communication. A heater 13' may, if desirable, belocated in opening 13 whereby air passing therethrough may be heated.The compartment of housing which appears to the left in Fig. 2 isadapted to receive and have passed therethrough continuous lengths offabric which it is desired to dry. The apparatus by which the fabric ispassed through this chamber of housing 10 will be described subsequentlybelow.

Within the other compartment of housing 10, that is, the compartment tothe right, as seen in Fig. 2, there is mounted a fan or fans 14 adaptedto establisha current of drying air directed upwardly inthe compartmentto pass through opening 12 into the fabric-drying compartment. The fanor fans 14 draw air from the lower portion of the right-handcompartment, which air may be heated, if desirable, by any suitableheating means such as heater 13'- Drying air, which is passed into theupper section of the fabric-drying compartment through opening 12 andpartition 11, is directed downwardly both by the curvature of the roofof this compartment as well as by reason of the suction created in thelower portion of the compartment by the fan drawing air therefromthrough lower opening 13 in partition 11. The dry air itself is drawnboth through and around the fabric which is being advanced through thedrying compartment, whereby moisture is withdrawn from the, fabric.Provision may of course also be made for either removing the moisturewithdrawn from the fabric from the air in the fan compartment of thehousing or for expelling moistureladen air from the housing and drawingthereinto a new supply of air. As these latter features do not form apart of our invention, it is not believed necessary to illustrate them.

The fabric-handling apparatus which advances the fabric through thedrying compartment of the dryer will now be described. It comprises aplurality of J-boxes as made of an open mesh material such as large meshscreen or an expanded metal lattice-work. Each J-box 2%) has a lowercurved section 21 having an open mouth 22 through which fabric may bewithdrawn from the J-box that has been fed thereto through an open upperend 23. The J-boxes are spaced longitudinally of the drying chamber,each extending transversely thereof. interposed between each pair ofsuccessive J-boxes is a feed roll 26 mounted on a shaft 27, the oppositeends of which are journaled in partition 11 and the side wall of thehousing 10.

A length of fabric 29 fed into the drying compartment initially by afeed roll 30 (Fig. 1) is deposited in the first J-box 2t permitted toaccumulate to a certain extent therein and withdrawn therefrom throughmouth 22 by a feed roll 26, whence it is deposited into the second J-box20. In this manner the fabric is continuously advanced through thedrying compartment of dryer 1 Each of the J-boxes 2% is supported by apair of lever arms 44 (only one being shown in connection with eachJ-box) connected to the opposite upper ends thereof. Each pair of leverarms 4!) is supported by a shaft 41 journallcd at its opposite ends inpartition 11 and a side wall of housing in. The pairs of lever arms ifiare fixedly secured to the shafts 41 so that pivotal movement thereofabout the axes of the shafts effects rotary movement of the shafts. Thisrotary movement of shafts all by the J-bcxes through lever arms 4%, as aresult of the accumulation of fabric in the J-boxes, is employed tocontrol the rate of rotation of the feed rolls 26, as will behereinafterdescribed.

Mounted on and fixedly secured to the end of each feed roll supportingshaft 27, which extends through and outwardly of the side wall ofhousing 10, is a drive wheel 42 which is adapted to be engaged by acontinuously driven drive belt 43, whereby driving power may be suppliedto the shaft to rotate the feed roll 26. The driving connection betweendrive belt 43 and drive wheels 42 is a frictional connection. When thedrive belt 43 is pressed tightly against the drive wheel 42, thecorresponding feed roll 26 is driven at its maximum speed, whereas whenthe drive belt 43 is out of contact with the drive wheel 42, thecorresponding feed roll 26 is stationary. During intermediate conditionsof contact between the drive belt and a drive wheel, varying speeds ofrotation of the corresponding feed roll 26 will be achieved.

A plurality of pressure rolls 44 are provided to press the drive beltagainst the various drive wheels 42 and for this purpose are located onthe opposite side of belt 43 from the respective drive wheels 42. Eachis mounted on a shaft 25,,one end of which is fixedly secured to a leverarm 46, which in turn is fixedly supported by a shaft 41 and istherefore adapted to be pivoted about the axis of shaft 41 in accordancewith the amount of fabric contained or accumulated in the J-box 2i)supported thereby. The other end of shaft 45 has fixedly secured to it acounterweight supporting arm 47, a portion 48 of which is threaded andadjustably supports a counterweight 49.

Each pressure roll 44 is thus urged toward its corresponding drive wheel42 to press continuously driven feed belt '13 thereagainst by the weightof J-box 20 and the accumulated fabric therein, whereas it is urged awayfrom its corresponding drive wheel 42 by the action of its correspondingcounterweight 49. Hence the adjustments of counterweights 49 determinethe amount of fabric that must accumulate in the J-boxes before thecorresponding feed rolls 26 will be rotated to remove fabric therefrom.

In Fig. 3 it will be noted that the outer J-boxes have a substantialamount of fabric therein, whereas the center J-box has substantiallylittle in it. This results from an adjustment of the counterweight 49for this Jbox such that the feed roll 26 which withdraws fabric from itis travelling at substantially the same rate as is the feed roll 26which is depositing fabric into it. 'It will be clear that thecounterweight for each of the J-boxes may be adjusted to maintain aconsiderable amount of fabric in the corresponding J-boxes or may beadjusted to maintain a very small accumulation of fabric therein.

To avoid having the fabric carried beneath feed rolls 26 and thuspossibly fall behind the back walls of the J-boxes 20, we provide asmall diameter roll 52 located immediately beneath the point ofdischarge of the fabric from each feed roll 26 and journalled inpartition 11 and housing side wall 10. One end of roll 52 extends beyondhousing side wall 10 and is adapted to engage continuously and be drivenby drive belt 43. The surfaces of rolls 52 are preferably smooth so asto exert a minimum driving eifect on the fabric, their function asindicated being not to positively advance the fabric but primarily toprevent its being carried beneath feed rolls 26. As fabric is depositedin a J-box, it forms folds, as illustrated in Fig. 3. New folds arecontinually added at the top of the pile of fabric in the J-box and aresubstantially continuously removed from the pile as the fabric is drawnfrom the discharge mouth 22 of the J-box by the succeeding feed roll 26.This accumulation of folds of fabric evidences a complete relaxation ofdie fabric as it passes through the apparatus, and further evidences, infact, a certain compressing of the fabric. As the folds continually movedownwardly in a J-box, and if sufiicient folds are contained therein,sometimes tumbled one over the other, the fabric is substantially alwayscontinuously agitated, whereby stresses previously introduced thereintoare permitted to remove themselves. Further more, the usual stressesthat result in subsequent shrinkage, some of which are usuallyintroduced into a fabric during drying, are not permitted to beintroduced in the fabric because the fabric is always completelyrelaxed. As a result of this conditioning or handling of the fabricthere is generally a shortening of the length of fabric. However, itwill be clear from the foregoing description of the control means forthe feed rolls that this change in length can be readily compensated forwithout the imposition on the fabric of any tensioning whatever.

The tumbling action of the above-described handling apparatus does, webelieve, approach as closely as pos sible, with a continuous length offabric, the tumbling action to which garments subsequently made of thefabric will be subjected in laundering and which wou d normally resultin considerable shrinkage. Therefore it is believeo that all shrinkagewill be permitted to take place during passage of the fabric throughthis handling ap is, at least all shrinkage mat might otherwise normallyresult from the treatment to which the fabric is being subjected whenhandled by this apparatus.

It will be clear, of course, that the handling apparatus will besatisfactory for handling continuous lengths of fabric during treatingoperations other than drying, i. e., steaming, etc., and the inventionshould not therefore be limited in any way to a drying operation it willalso be clear that various changes and modifications may be made in theabove-described apparatus without departing from the scope of ourinvention or the method thereof, and therefore our invention should belimited only to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The method of treating continuous lengths of textile fabric whichcomprises advancing the fabric longitudinally through a treating zone insuccessive loops, supporting the loops at their upper and lowerportions, continuously changing the fabric in each loop, maintaining ineach loop suflicient fabric to form a plurality of folds in the lowerportion thereof tumbled one upon another whereby the fabric is not onlysubstantiahy continuously and completely relaxed but is also subjectedto stress-relieving agitation, and continuously passing a treating agentabout and through the loops of fabric.

2. The method of treating continuous lengths of textile fabric whichcomprises advancing the fabric longitudinally through a treating zone insuccessive loops, supporting each loop at its upper portion, supportingthe bottom portion of each loop so that the fabric therein is completelyrelaxed and at least one loose fold is maintained therein, substantiallycontinuously drawing fabric from each loop at its upper forward portionand feeding it to the upper rearward portion of the succeeding loop,continuously passing drying air about and through the loops of fabric,and controlling the rate of withdrawal of fabric from each loop inaccordance with the rate at which it is fed to said loop so that asubstantially constant amount of fabric is maintained in said loop.

3. Apparatus for drying continuous lengths of textile fabric whichcomprises a drying chamber, a plurality of feed rolls spacedlongitudinally of and within said chamher, means for driving eachfeeding roll at different speeds, a J-box interposed between each twosuccessive feed rolls and adapted to receive fabric fed thereto by oneof said feed rolls and to have fabric withdrawn therefrom by thesucceeding feed roll, and means operatively connecthig each J-box to thedriving means for the feed roll" which withdraws fabric therefrom forchanging the speed of said last-mentioned feed roll in accordance withthe amount of fabric in said J-bOX.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the means operativelyconnecting each J-box to the drive means for the succeeding feed rollcompletely supports the J-box and includes an adjustably mountedcounterweight which tends to counteract the efiect on said means of theweight of the J-box and the fabric contained therein whereby said meansmay be adjusted to maintain varying amounts of fabric in the J-box.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which each .l-box is made of acoarse mesh material and which includes means for passing drying airabout and through said fabric as it is advanced through the treatingzone.

6. The method of treating textile fabric to minimize subsequentshrinkage thereof which comprises arranging, supporting and advancingthe fabric in successive relaxed loops so as to provide folds withineach loop, continuous- 1y changing the fabric in each loop bycontinuously adding folds thereto, withdrawing folds therefrom wherebythe folds are worked by the advance of the fabric to compress theconstitutent fibers of the fabric, and applying a treating agent to thesuccessive relaxed loops of the fabric.

7. A method of treating moistened textile fabric to minimize subsequentshrinkage thereof which comprises arranging, supporting and advancingthe moistened fabric so as to relax the fabric and to effect rippling ofthe fabric in a succession of loops, maintaining a variablepredetermined amount, by weight, of fabric in each loop, repeatedlychanging the fabric in each loop, and applying a drying medium to thefabric.

References ited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES FATENTS1,033,925 Palmer July 30, 1912 1,534,500 Braemer et a1 Apr. 21, 19251,844,658 fiolcom'o Feb. 9, 1932 1,854,526 Rowley Apr. 19, 19321,854,604 Steinmann Apr. 19, 1932 2,210,880 Capstaff Aug. 13, 19402,248,333 Burbank July 8, 1941 2,431,372 Cook et a1. Nov. 25, 19472,482,497 Miller Sept. 20, 1949 2,521,440 Bannon Sept. 5, 1950 2,584,753Spooner Feb. 5, 1952 2,597,529 Redman May 20, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS613,471 Great Britain May 7, 1946

